Ex-teacher pleads guilty to having sex with girl

A Bethlehem-Center teacher hired to produce the spring musical in Charleroi School District pleaded guilty Tuesday to having sex with a 15-year-old girl in the Charleroi Area Junior-Senior High School auditorium.

Jeffrey A. Hahn, 24, formerly of Belle Vernon and now living in Allison Park, Allegheny County, was a seventh-grade teacher at Bethlehem-Center Middle School when he was arrested in July. His teaching certification has since been revoked by the state Department of Education, according to his attorney, Steven Toprani.

On Tuesday, before Washington County Judge John DiSalle, Hahn agreed to plead guilty to sexual assault, corruption of minors and institutional sexual assault of a minor in exchange for a sentence of 4 to 8 years in prison followed by 7 years of probation.

Hahn, however, could not officially be sentenced pending evaluation by the Pennsylvania Sexual Offenders Assessment Board to determine if he meets the criteria of a sexually violent predator. DiSalle postponed sentencing for approximately 90 days until the evaluation is completed.

According to Charleroi police records, Hahn was arrested for having sex with the girl May 4 in the basement of the school’s auditorium. He had started sending the girl text messages March 4. Five days later, the two allegedly pledged their love for each other.

The girl and her parents, who were in court Tuesday, told the judge they were in agreement with the plea offer made to Hahn. They, however, will not get the opportunity to address the court regarding the matter until Hahn’s official sentencing.

In the meantime, DiSalle is allowing Hahn to remain free on $100,000 bond but he is forbidden to have any contact with the girl or any children who are not related to him.

Linda Metz has been with the Observer-Reporter since 2000, covering Washington County courts and politics, as well as the city of Washington. She previously was employed by the Tribune Review. She is a graduate of Point Park College, now a university, in Pittsburgh.